Some organizers of cross-country skiing races in Minnesota, like the Stifel Loppet Cup and various high school and college competitions, aren鈥檛 worried about the lack of snow so far this winter.
But the lack of cold temperatures? That鈥檚 another story.
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While several cold-weather sporting events are changing plans, from the recent cancellation of northeast Minnesota鈥檚 annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon to the decision to move the annual Gunflint Mail Run sled dog race in northeast Minnesota to February , cross-country event planners are holding their plans in place.
Claire Wilson is the executive director of the Loppet Foundation, which hosts the Stifel Loppet Cup race, 聽a World Cup cross-country event set for Feb. 17 through 19. She said the lack of snowfall and warmer temperatures puts the race organizers in a difficult position.
But with events hosted at facilities that can create artificial snow, the lack of snow won鈥檛 shut down the Loppet.
鈥淲e feel very, very confident that we鈥檙e going to be able to provide a course. It is a race against time because we need prolonged cold for days on end to be able to produce the snow that we need,鈥� Wilson said.
John Richter is the executive director of Endurance United, a nonprofit that will host the Battle Creek Ascent on Jan. 13 and 14 in Ramsey County鈥檚 Battle Creek Winter Recreation Area. It鈥檚 a national qualifying race for 10 central states for U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
This is the first year that Ramsey County has had full snowmaking capabilities for a cross-country event, opening the opportunity for the east side of the Twin Cities region.
Richter said the new infrastructure at Battle Creek will be able to help build snow cover on cross-country trails, but they still must contend with higher-than-average temperatures.
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鈥淭he big downturn is that we haven鈥檛 had the cold nights at staying above freezing. So it never has a chance to reform and stay solid,鈥� Richter said. 鈥淪o it just continues to melt. If it was cold at night and would refreeze, it tends to stick around for quite a while.鈥�
Wilson said the ideal temperature is 28 degrees to efficiently make snow and maintain a trail for cross-country races.
鈥淭ypically in December, we would have snow guns going pretty much 24/7, day and night. And this December, we had very limited windows of snowmaking,鈥� Wilson said.
The lack of snow isn鈥檛 a detriment to professional athletes training for the race 鈥� many have been training in Europe throughout this warm spell 鈥� but it comes as the U.S. is gaining momentum on the world stage.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had men on the podium; Jessie Diggins has been consistently winning her races or placing in her races. And the excitement for that team to come here and race,鈥� Wilson said.
鈥淭hink about it: if you鈥檙e a Vikings player, you鈥檙e playing in front of a hometown crowd with some frequency. These are folks who in 20 years have not been able to have a World Cup race in front of their family and friends.鈥�
But high school and college teams are making do with what opportunities are available. Richert said the athletes are using whatever size course is available, and other athletes may be training through trail running, strength training or ski skates until the temperatures are consistently cold enough.
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鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have the event, but it鈥檚 going to be adjusted to accommodate what Ramsey County is able to actually make,鈥� Richert said. 鈥淚f they have a 2K of a course, we鈥檒l utilize that. If it鈥檚 2.5K, we鈥檒l utilize that. We鈥檙e okay with the fact that if we are able to pull the event back into a 5k and do a couple laps and maybe having to do a multiple lap race. It鈥檚 still an event it still gets people outside there.鈥�
Richert said it鈥檚 the community that tends to bring athletes out, whether on a team or strapping on skis for fun. And community will find a way to adapt, no matter the conditions.
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